ABOUT US

CIE-SOCAL is a non-profit professional organization for Chinese-Americans, as well as other Asian Americans, engineers and scientists or their supporters. As the 7th chapter of the national CIE-USA, the main objective of CIE-SOCAL is to promote communication among all engineers and scientists who are interested in the well being of the engineering community in Southern California region and to make contributions to their communities.

Our Mission:

Advance our members' career via professional development workshops in many areas such as leadership and communication.

Help our local community by participation of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) events.

Make our voice heard by relentlessly advocating betterment of scientists and engineers to local, regional, and national politicians.

CIE-USA Objectives

The charter of the Chinese Institute of Engineers, a scientific and educational organization, is for the establishment and improvement of the Chinese engineering infrastructure and technical capability, subsequently improving the living standard of the Chinese people.

It was true then in 1917, and it is still valid today. An article of the constitution in the ROC Chapter ( circa.1970 ) best captures the objectives of the Institute.

“The objectives of the Institute shall be the advancement of the science and profession of engineering, and the promotion of development of the engineering projects through the joint services of the members of the engineering professions.”

our Guiding Principles

中國工程師信條

The 1970 CIE/ROC Handbook also listed eight guiding principles which have been observed by many great engineers and scientists before us. These principles, as translated in the following, together with the Institute objectives, very well reflects the CIE organization in the 20th Century.

Our Sister Chapters

History

Prior to 1905, there were no Chinese engineers in China! All of the major projects were done by foreign engineers. The first engineering project designed and managed by Chinese engineers was in 1905, when American educated Zhan Tien-You (詹天佑) headed the building of Jing-Zhang railroad (京張鐵路) connecting Beijing (北京) and Zhang-Jia-Kou (張家口).

Recognizing the need for engineers to help modernize China, more students were send abroad to study science and engineering. In 1917, the Chinese Institute of Engineers ( CIE ) was founded in US by a group of able, dedicated and far-sighted Chinese engineers. These charter members were graduate students from American colleges and/or were receiving practical training in American railroads and industries. Early membership totaled about 80. When the majority of these members returned home to serve their country, the main organization moved to China with them, and their remaining counterparts in America became a chapter. This status remained through two world wars until 1949.

During 1917-1923, the CIE headquarters was located in Shanghai, while chapters in Beijing and Tienjin were established. The first convention was held in Shanghai on 1923. Membership by then grew to 350. Membership growth reached 1500 in 1930.

The Chinese Institute of Engineers merged with Chung-Hwa Engineers (founded in 1910) in August 1931, at a combined engineering convention held in Nanking (南京). The headquarters was then relocated to Nanking, the national capital. The post merger enrollment reached 2,169 members.

The organization remained active during the second world war in Chungking, re-established the convention in 1938, and formed chapters in Kuming, Chengdu, Kweiyang, Lanchou, Kweiling and Chungking. During the period of Japanese invasion of China, the engineers provided the needed technical services to the government to defend China.

The Taiwan CIE-ROC was re-established in March 1950. On the occasion of the 50th anniversary in 1960, (adopted the founding date of Jan 1910 of the Chung-Hwa Engineers ) membership count was more than 3000.

The CIE-NY was re-activated as an independent entity in July 1953 in New York City by a number of accomplished engineers in the U.S. Subsequently the institute was registered in the State of New York in 1963 as the Chinese Institute of Engineers, New York, Inc., a tax-exempt non-profit organization. The CIE-NY and CIE-ROC co-founded the Modern Engineering and Technology Seminar ( METS ) in 1966. The cooperation among the engineers in ROC and USA successfully helped the country in establishing the infrastructure for industrialization, promoting industrial research and development of advanced technologies. Over the years, the METS has introduced many advanced technologies to the ROC and set up the stage for the Taiwan microelectronics miracles.

The CIE/USA National Council, a federation organization of CIE/USA, was established in 1986 with the Greater New York and San Francisco Bay Area Chapters as its founding chapters. In the following years, the National Council was expanded to include Seattle Chapter, OCEESA Chapter, Dallas-Fort Worth Chapter and New Mexico Chapter.

One of CIE/USA’s most significant activities over the years has been the continuation of the Modern Engineering and Technology Seminar (METS), co-sponsoring the bi-annual events with CIE/ROC. In light of the success of the METS, in 1993 the CIE/USA established another bi-annual seminar series, SATEC (Sino-American Technology and Engineering Conference), with the People's Republic of China, with the same objectives as METS. The 1993, 1995 and 1997 SATEC conferences were successful and well received.

The SATEC is holding its fourth Conference in 1999, while the METS had held its 17th Seminar in 1998.

LING Hung-Hsun

淩鴻勛

CHIEN Chong-Jer

錢昌祚

1925 Convention Chairman at Hongchow

LI Hou-San

李垕身

1926 President

XUE Zeh-Zin

薛次莘

1926-1927 Vice President

MAO Yi-Sheng

茅以昇

1926 Grand Reunion Chairman

The Early CIE Award Recipients

Hung Hsun Ling

淩鴻勛

Mr. Hung Hsun Ling had to cut short on his practical training in the American Bridge Co. at the end of 1917 on account of his father passed away. Since his return to China he had served in many technical and educational positions such as the acting president of the Nanyang College; President of the Chiao-Tung University (the successor of the Nanyang College) and as the Chief Engineer of the Hangkow-Canton Railroad. He took the job on the long delayed railroad construction and completed the planned connections. For that achievement he received the top CIE honor, the Engineers’ Medal award in 1937. Later on in 1951, he was instrumental in the re-establishment of the CIE activities in Taiwan. In 1957, he led the Chiao-Tung University alumni in re-establishing the Chiao-Tung University in Hsinchu with Dr. Shee-Mou Lee, another active CIE member as the Dean of the Electronics department. Dr. Ling retired from the Chinese Petroleum Corporation as the Chairman of the Board in 1976. He passed away in August 15 1981 at the age of 86. He was a true dedicated engineer, educator and industrialist, true to the guiding principles of a CIE member.

Te-Bong Hou

侯德榜

Mr. Te-Bong Hou majored in chemical engineering, returned to China, served in the industry and received the Engineers’ Medal in 1936 for his contribution in the development of Ammonia Sulfate Processing Plant.

Mao Yi-Sheng

茅以昇

Dr. Mao Yi-Sheng received the CIE Engineers’ Medal for his accomplishment in the building of the famous Qiantang River Bridge (錢塘江大橋) in Zhejiang (浙 江) Province. He also served as co-dean of the Chiao Tung University, Tangshan College (唐山交通大學) since 1921 until his retirement.

Dr. Mao received his Masters’ Degree from the Cornell University and the recipient of the Fuertes Medal. He received the Ph.D. Degree in civil engineering from the Carnegie Institute of Technology, his doctoral dissertation “Secondary Stresses in Bridge Tress” becomes the Mao’s Law. A serious scholar, during his student years in America, he filled 200 note books detailing his work and observations. Those note books are now the treasured collection of the Southwest Jiao Tong University (西南交通大學) in Chengdu (成都).

Yue-Chi Sun

孫越琦

Mr. Yue-Chi Sun, a mining engineer, received the Engineers’ Medal in 1942 for his success in oil mining at the Yuimon mine (玉門油礦).

Yong Fu Tsang

曾養甫

Mr. Yong Fu Tsang, Minister of the Communications, president of CIE 1936-1939 and then 1944-1947 received the Engineers’ Medal in 1944 for his contribution in airport building and maintenance during the war. He served as the Minister throughout the war years.

Bing Yuen Gee

支秉淵

Mr. Bing Yuen Gee, Executive Director 1932, received his Engineers’ Medal in 1943 for his mechanical engineering achievements with Diesel engines and other various mechanical designs.

Kwong-Chai Chu

朱光彩

Mr. Kwong-Chai Chu received his Engineers’ Medal for his flood control engineering dealing with the unruly and turbulent Yellow River.